Picture Books

Greater Estimations

Author(s): 
Bruce Goldstone
Number of pages: 
31 pages
Copyright: 
2008
ISBN: 
9781250079619
Publisher: 
Henry Holt & Company
Subject(s): 
Math
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

You may have enjoyed, like we have, Great Estimations in the past. I was happy to find in the library this week a brand new sequel by the same author!

Greater Estimations deals still with estimations, as as the cover says, it deals with greater estimations. Be prepared for some large numbers, and if you read it aloud it may generate some fun discussions! I had lunch today with my friend and neighbor Mary Daly, the author of the well-known homeschool science program entitled The Universe in My Hands, and over some awesome enchiladas after our bishop's pro-life mass we discussed how so few people have a good grasp of how many a million is. Or even one thousand. We went on to estimate the chips in the basket next to the yummy salsa!

Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
First reviewed: 
January 22, 2009

Happy Birth Day!

Book cover: 'Happy Birth Day!'
Author(s): 
Robie H. Harris
Illustrator(s): 
Michael Emberley
Number of pages: 
24 pages
Copyright: 
1996
Publisher: 
Candlewick Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
This is a simple story of a mother describing her baby's first day after birth. It focuses on how the baby looks and acts and how much the baby is loved by the parents and extended family. The best part, I think, are the illustrations. The illustrator has wonderfully captured the lovable yet wrinkly face of a newborn and the beautiful excitement and exhaustion of bringing a new life into the world. It is a wonderful book for toddlers and other young children to read while anticipating the arrival of a new sibling.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
6-22-04

How Do Bees Make Honey?

Book cover: How Do Bees Make Honey?
Author(s): 
Anna Claybourne
Number of pages: 
24 pages
Copyright: 
1994
ISBN: 
9780746017654
Publisher: 
Usborne
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Insects and Arthropods
Grade / Age level: 
Preschool
Kindergarten
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

A small, inexpensive book filled with pictures and lots of other information picture about bees and other insects. You'll learn how to tell bees apart from other insects, how bees live together in colonies and all about their beehives, how bees communicate with each other (my children have really enjoyed trying to re-enact the bee's dances) and of course how bees make honey. The one thing I didn't like is that the material is so disjointed because it jumps around between different kinds of insects.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1998-99

I could do that! Esther Morris gets Women the Vote

Author(s): 
Linda Arms White
Illustrator(s): 
Nancy Carpenter
Copyright: 
2005
Publisher: 
Farrar Straus Giroux
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Civics
Grade / Age level: 
All ages
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
This is a very cute book telling the true story of Esther Morris and the advent of the woman vote. The language is fun and accessible but it doesn't sugarcoat events. The eighth of eleven children and six foot tall, Esther had a interesting life and courage to spare. In this time of primaries, as we breathe politics in the air, this books brings a refreshing read!
Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
First reviewed: 
2-21-2008

Insects

Biggest! Littlest!
Book cover: Insects: Biggest! Littlest!
Author(s): 
Sandra Markle
Illustrator(s): 
Simon Pollard (photographer)
Copyright: 
2009
ISBN: 
9781590785126
Publisher: 
Boyds Mills Press
Subject(s): 
Biology / Life Science
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Grades 1-4
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

We have been spending hours in the garden where insects abound, and this new friendly title comes to entertain and inform my summer readers. The photos are very interesting and our 10 yr. old enjoyed reading about the reasons behind the dimensions of each of the unusually sized insects. The amount of information is juicy enough but also little enough to make this light and breezy summer reading!

Have fun learning about these insects: the most numerous animals on earth!

Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
First reviewed: 
July 03, 2009

Jerome Lejeune: Saintly Geneticist

Book cover: Jerome Lejeune, Saintly Geneticist
Author(s): 
Ana Braga-Henebry
Illustrator(s): 
Anita Barghigiani
Number of pages: 
48 pages
Copyright: 
2024
ISBN: 
9781685780975
Publisher: 
Word on Fire Votive
Binding: 
Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Biographical Stories
Scientists
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

A wonderful book that integrates faith and science!

Ana Braga-Henebry and Anita Barghigiani have created an engaging book about Venerable Dr. Jerome Lejeune, the father of modern genetics. This lovely book is instructive for all ages! The book includes a timeline of important events in the life of Dr. Lejeune with dates and photographs from pivotal moments in his life. The author shares the story of Dr. Lejeune's childhood, his marriage, and his work as a pediatrician.

As a researcher, Dr. Lejeune worked hard to discover the genetics underlying Down syndrome and other genetic conditions. This book is an inspiring story of faith and excellence in scientific research. The book seamlessly integrates the true story of a faithful Christian man who understood the importance of both faith and science.

Additional notes: 

Our own Ana Braga-Henebry is this lovely new book's author!

Also see our review of Life is a Blessing, a biography of Dr. Lejeune for high school students and adults.

Reviewed by: 
Nancy Gerdes
First reviewed: 
05/30/2024

Jesus Feeds Everybody!

Book cover: Jesus Feeds Everybody
Author(s): 
Choi, Young-Jin
Kim, Jung-Cho
Copyright: 
2007
ISBN: 
0819839876
Publisher: 
Pauline Books & Media
Subject(s): 
The Life of Christ
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

Jesus Feeds Everybody! by Young-Jin Choi and Jung-Cho Kim, is an English translation of a board book originally published in Korea. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes came to life for Ramona. She loved this brightly illustrated book and I think she especially loved that it comes with a built-in ribbon handle for convenient toting.

A very happy Jesus, cute bunnies and lambs and its own handle ... Ramona was pleased.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

I recently received a couple of new books from Pauline Books and Media and Ramona was taken with both of them. The books are this one, Jesus Feeds Everybody!, and The Easter Swallows by Vicki Howie.

Reviewed by: 
Karen Edmisten
First reviewed: 
April 05, 2007

Joseph and Chico, The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat

Author(s): 
Jeanne Perego
Illustrator(s): 
Donata Dal Molin Casagrande
Number of pages: 
44 pages
Copyright: 
2007
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Glued Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Grade / Age level: 
All ages
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 
It’s not every day that a picture book is written about a Pope, especially from the point of view of a cat. Joseph and Chico is the delightful story of Pope Benedict XVI’s life as told from the viewpoint of Chico, a cat who lives at his residence in Bavaria. With a lively conversational tone, he relates the life of Pope Benedict XVI, beginning with his birth and touching on the important events in his life. While the story is longer and more complex than an ordinary children's picture book, the author’s gift for storytelling and humorous comments kept my two daughters’ attention the whole way through. The illustrations are not spectacular, but they do offer a nice, bright, colorful complement to the text. With gentle humor and lively prose, Joseph and Chico, The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat makes a fun and interesting read.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Elizabeth Yank
First reviewed: 
4-18-2008

Little Acts of Grace

Author(s): 
Rosemarie Gortler
Donna Piscitelli
Illustrator(s): 
Mimi Sternhagen
Number of pages: 
48 pages
Copyright: 
2002
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Miscellaneous Religion Materials
Grade / Age level: 
Preschool
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

This is a friendly little introduction for children to the small ways that they can show love to God. It's a combination of a book of manners (since there are explanations of how to behave at Church - and why) with a simple devotional theme that is accessible to young children. What a great idea!

Children are gently encouraged to bow their head when Jesus' name is said, show a sign of affection when they pass by a Catholic Church because Jesus is present in the tabernacle, and say a prayer when they see an ambulance go by. Regarding Holy Mass, the book encourages and explains why we dress appropriately for Mass, bless ourselves with holy water, genuflect, and try to pay attention even when it's hard. There are also parts of Mass that are illustrated and explained (both how we act and what is happening): the "Lord Have Mercy" prayer, The Prayer Before the Gospel (and the special signs we make at that time), The Consecration and Communion. The book concludes with the theme of prayer, including why and how we pray to Mary, to the Saints and to the Angels and prayers for mealtime and bedtime.

Each subject is covered with a colorful illustration on one side of the page and a page of text (including a Bible quote). It's perfect for children preparing for their First Communion, but could certainly be enjoyed by younger children too.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
4-20-07

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